Questions: IF YOU THINK ANY OF THE ANSWERS ARE INCOMPLETE, FEEL FREE TO ADD MORE INFORMATION 1. What was Sinclair’s intention in writing The Jungle? How was the impact different than he anticipated?
Sinclair never meant to expose the meat industry as a way of criticizing the society. He was trying to protest against the system and "survival of the fittest," and the graphic descriptions in the novel were there because they were true facts of the life of an average worker. Sinclair wanted to show the desparation immigrants went through to acheive their American dream, and what they risked to reach it. His novel, however, not only influenced the White House to pass the Wholesome Meat Act of 1967 and the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, but it was also "said to have decreased America's meat consumption for decades." 2. Why is this called a “protest novel” in the Introduction?
It is a protest novel because it shows the horrible living and working conditions that the workers have to experience; this is his way of protesting for socialism and opening American eyes. Also, he does it in a unique way: storytelling. 3.What impact did the book have when it was released?
The impact the book had on the world was not what Sinclair hoped. It had more of an affect on the meat packing world than the socialist world. After reading the graphic novel, people felt disgusted about what they were consuming, and they also felt pity for the workers. It greatly influenced the White House to pass the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. It was also believed to have cut down the consumption of meat for many years. 4. What criticisms does the Introduction writer offer of the book? Be specific!
One criticism that the writer said was that Sinclair did not really balance the characters' burdens and blessings. At any given point, the characters were either extremely depressed or extremely ecstatic. There is never an "in between" kind of mood. Another criticism is that the novel kept giving off this feeling of pity towards the characters. This does not make the novel good to read because it demeans the current states of the characters to less than people. 5. What was the ultimate importance of the book? What is its message?
The reason Sinclair does not show that his characters are independent is because they are not independent at all. They rely on their wages to make a living, and they cannot afford to get an education or get a better job because that requires them to put less time into their factory jobs. Losing a job would mean losing their wages; families would not be fed, improvements in their lifestyle could not be made, and they would start again at square one. 6. ID the following: Mike Scully, Bubbly Creek, Packingtown, Dr. Schliemann, Tommy Hinds, Madame
Haupt, Jack Duane Jack Duane-- a prisoner Jurgis met when he was in prison for attacking a boss; is a cracksman (opens safes and locks); the first educated man Jurgis has ever talked to Packingtown-- the city Jurgis and his family first live in when they reach Chicago; it is a place of many factories and industries Mike Scully-- corrupt and greedy, makes money off of the housing scandal that Jurgis and his family fall into, rigs elections Bubbly Creek-- an arm of the Chicago River where old meat was thrown; the grease caused carbonic acid gas to rise to the surface; the surface would occasionally catch on fire Dr. Schliemann-- called himself a "philosophic anarchist;" was an educated Swede who was a philosophy professor when he lived in Sweden; when he moved to America, he studied the "composition of food stuffs" to the point where he knew exactly how much carbohydrates and protein to put in his body Tommy Hinds-- manager of a small hotel in Chicago and a supporter of socialism; Jurgis gets a job as Hinds’s porter Madame Haupt-- midwife who delivered Ona's baby; the baby and Ona both died after the birth. 7. Why did Jurgis and Ona come to America?
Jurgis decided to come because he saw a land of opportunity there. When he heard that his friend got rich, he was anxious to see what that feels like. He also thought that he would be free if he went there; he did not have to avoid the army by paying them large amounts of money. He belived that in America, every man was considered equal, no matter what country he was from or how much money he possessed. 8. In what ways does Sinclair take capitalism to task in the process of Jurgis “buying” a house?
The ads for the homes in the paper showed them as much nicer than they actually were. When Jurgis's family visited one of the homes, they saw that the basement and the attic were not finished. The real estate agent had told them that the houses were selling quickly, but they see that this is also not true when they visit the house. When they finally buy the house, they see on the deed that it is a "rental". They are told that it is only a rental until all of the payments are made, but they learn that it is called a rental only because that makes it easier for poor people who can't pay rent to be evicted, and this gets the corporation money. 9. How does Jurgis end up in jail? How does Sinclair compare the factory where Jurgis works with the cell
where he spends time? How long does he stay in jail? Why is he blacklisted?
Ona tells Jurgis that she has not been returning some nights from work because she has been being raped by her boss Phil Connors. Connors threaten to black list her family if she is not his mistress and works at the brothel. Jurgis marches to Ona's work and beats Connors mercilessly. Jurgis is sentenced to prison for thirty days. Jurgis comes back to find his family out of their house and in the old boarding house and Ona dies that day from giving a birth to a child. Phil Connors does as he dais and black lists Jurgis's family and they are unable to find any work. 10. How is Jurgis injured on the job? What happens to him? Where does he work after that? Describe the
conditions.
Jurgis sprains his ankle and is out of work for three weeks. Jurgis feels pitty for not being able to provide money for such a long time and takes his anger out on the family and forces Stanislovas to work even when it is really cold. 11. What causes Jurgis to begin his life of wandering? What jobs does he have after returning from his
wanderings? List them in order.
Jurgis comes home from the mill one weekend to find out that Antanas drowned in a mire of mud in the street. Jurgis couldn't handle it and just left without saying a word and went to the country side where he wandered between farms looking for food or work. Once Jurgis came back toi Chicago he started out digging underground tunnels, then Jurgis becomes a criminal and starts mug rich people with Jack Duane, then Jurgis does some work for Democratic politicians helping them with elections. Then Jurgis becomes a hog trimmer. Then Jurgis ends as promoter of socialism. 12. Why is Jurgis sometimes referred to as “Jack?” In what ways does he suffer dehumanization? How
does the socialist meeting help him to rediscover himself? The socialist meeting helps Jurgis rediscover himself because it showed him a cause, a political party, that promoted the working class. The speaker at the socialist meeting described all the problems that Jurgis had been suffering, and he offered hope to solve these problems through change. 13 Why did Schliemann consider himself a “philosopher anarchist?” What was The Appeal? What
important realization did Jurgis have as a result of his contact with socialism? Schliemann considers himself a "philosopher anarchist" because he believes the end of human existence was the free development of every personality, unrestricted by others laws. He says that he is Communist in "material productuion, anarchist in intellectual." The corruption, the bad treatment of immigrants, and the huge gap between the rich and poor.
Introduction- and Chapter 1 Everyone reads and answers questions 1-5
2-Sarvie
3-Jay
4-Annie
5-Kevin
6-Patrick
7-Sarvie
8-Jay
9-Annie
10-Kevin
11-Patrick
12-Sarvie
13-Jay
14-Annie
15-Kevin
16-Patrick
17-Sarvie
18-Jay
19-Annie
20-Kevin
21-Patrick
22-Sarvie
23-Jay
24-Annie
25-Kevin
26-Patrick
27-Sarvie
28-Jay
29-Annie
30-Kevin
CHAPTER 31- EVERYONE
Questions: IF YOU THINK ANY OF THE ANSWERS ARE INCOMPLETE, FEEL FREE TO ADD MORE INFORMATION
1. What was Sinclair’s intention in writing The Jungle? How was the impact different than he anticipated?
Sinclair never meant to expose the meat industry as a way of criticizing the society. He was trying to protest against the system and "survival of the fittest," and the graphic descriptions in the novel were there because they were true facts of the life of an average worker. Sinclair wanted to show the desparation immigrants went through to acheive their American dream, and what they risked to reach it. His novel, however, not only influenced the White House to pass the Wholesome Meat Act of 1967 and the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, but it was also "said to have decreased America's meat consumption for decades."
2. Why is this called a “protest novel” in the Introduction?
It is a protest novel because it shows the horrible living and working conditions that the workers have to experience; this is his way of protesting for socialism and opening American eyes. Also, he does it in a unique way: storytelling.
3.What impact did the book have when it was released?
The impact the book had on the world was not what Sinclair hoped. It had more of an affect on the meat packing world than the socialist world. After reading the graphic novel, people felt disgusted about what they were consuming, and they also felt pity for the workers. It greatly influenced the White House to pass the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. It was also believed to have cut down the consumption of meat for many years.
4. What criticisms does the Introduction writer offer of the book? Be specific!
One criticism that the writer said was that Sinclair did not really balance the characters' burdens and blessings. At any given point, the characters were either extremely depressed or extremely ecstatic. There is never an "in between" kind of mood. Another criticism is that the novel kept giving off this feeling of pity towards the characters. This does not make the novel good to read because it demeans the current states of the characters to less than people.
5. What was the ultimate importance of the book? What is its message?
The reason Sinclair does not show that his characters are independent is because they are not independent at all. They rely on their wages to make a living, and they cannot afford to get an education or get a better job because that requires them to put less time into their factory jobs. Losing a job would mean losing their wages; families would not be fed, improvements in their lifestyle could not be made, and they would start again at square one.
6. ID the following: Mike Scully, Bubbly Creek, Packingtown, Dr. Schliemann, Tommy Hinds, Madame
Haupt, Jack Duane
Jack Duane-- a prisoner Jurgis met when he was in prison for attacking a boss; is a cracksman (opens safes and locks); the first educated man Jurgis has ever talked to
Packingtown-- the city Jurgis and his family first live in when they reach Chicago; it is a place of many factories and industries
Mike Scully-- corrupt and greedy, makes money off of the housing scandal that Jurgis and his family fall into, rigs elections
Bubbly Creek-- an arm of the Chicago River where old meat was thrown; the grease caused carbonic acid gas to rise to the surface; the surface would occasionally catch on fire
Dr. Schliemann-- called himself a "philosophic anarchist;" was an educated Swede who was a philosophy professor when he lived in Sweden; when he moved to America, he studied the "composition of food stuffs" to the point where he knew exactly how much carbohydrates and protein to put in his body
Tommy Hinds-- manager of a small hotel in Chicago and a supporter of socialism; Jurgis gets a job as Hinds’s porter
Madame Haupt-- midwife who delivered Ona's baby; the baby and Ona both died after the birth.
7. Why did Jurgis and Ona come to America?
Jurgis decided to come because he saw a land of opportunity there. When he heard that his friend got rich, he was anxious to see what that feels like. He also thought that he would be free if he went there; he did not have to avoid the army by paying them large amounts of money. He belived that in America, every man was considered equal, no matter what country he was from or how much money he possessed.
8. In what ways does Sinclair take capitalism to task in the process of Jurgis “buying” a house?
The ads for the homes in the paper showed them as much nicer than they actually were. When Jurgis's family visited one of the homes, they saw that the basement and the attic were not finished. The real estate agent had told them that the houses were selling quickly, but they see that this is also not true when they visit the house. When they finally buy the house, they see on the deed that it is a "rental". They are told that it is only a rental until all of the payments are made, but they learn that it is called a rental only because that makes it easier for poor people who can't pay rent to be evicted, and this gets the corporation money.
9. How does Jurgis end up in jail? How does Sinclair compare the factory where Jurgis works with the cell
where he spends time? How long does he stay in jail? Why is he blacklisted?
Ona tells Jurgis that she has not been returning some nights from work because she has been being raped by her boss Phil Connors. Connors threaten to black list her family if she is not his mistress and works at the brothel. Jurgis marches to Ona's work and beats Connors mercilessly. Jurgis is sentenced to prison for thirty days. Jurgis comes back to find his family out of their house and in the old boarding house and Ona dies that day from giving a birth to a child. Phil Connors does as he dais and black lists Jurgis's family and they are unable to find any work.
10. How is Jurgis injured on the job? What happens to him? Where does he work after that? Describe the
conditions.
Jurgis sprains his ankle and is out of work for three weeks. Jurgis feels pitty for not being able to provide money for such a long time and takes his anger out on the family and forces Stanislovas to work even when it is really cold.
11. What causes Jurgis to begin his life of wandering? What jobs does he have after returning from his
wanderings? List them in order.
Jurgis comes home from the mill one weekend to find out that Antanas drowned in a mire of mud in the street. Jurgis couldn't handle it and just left without saying a word and went to the country side where he wandered between farms looking for food or work. Once Jurgis came back toi Chicago he started out digging underground tunnels, then Jurgis becomes a criminal and starts mug rich people with Jack Duane, then Jurgis does some work for Democratic politicians helping them with elections. Then Jurgis becomes a hog trimmer. Then Jurgis ends as promoter of socialism.
12. Why is Jurgis sometimes referred to as “Jack?” In what ways does he suffer dehumanization? How
does the socialist meeting help him to rediscover himself? The socialist meeting helps Jurgis rediscover himself because it showed him a cause, a political party, that promoted the working class. The speaker at the socialist meeting described all the problems that Jurgis had been suffering, and he offered hope to solve these problems through change.
13 Why did Schliemann consider himself a “philosopher anarchist?” What was The Appeal? What
important realization did Jurgis have as a result of his contact with socialism? Schliemann considers himself a "philosopher anarchist" because he believes the end of human existence was the free development of every personality, unrestricted by others laws. He says that he is Communist in "material productuion, anarchist in intellectual." The corruption, the bad treatment of immigrants, and the huge gap between the rich and poor.